An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Vol. III: Uttara-tantra — trans. Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1916)

its origin in the vitiated condition of the blood, i. e the Baktaja type is marked by redness of the eyes, flow of copper-coloured tears, as well as the symptoms of the Pittaja type of the disease and the presence of deep red stripes all along. 3-6.

Causes of Adhimantha s— All the (four)

forms of chronic Abhishyanda, if not properly attended to and remedied at the outset, may run into as many cases of Adhimantha which is attended (invariably) with an excruciating pain in the eye, which seems as if being torn out, the pain extending upward to and crushing, as it were, the half the region of the head. The characteristic symptoms of the Doshas involved in each case are also seen to supervene. 7.

Symptoms of Vsitaja Adhimantha s—

In the Vrftaja type of Adhimantha the eye becomes cloudy and seems as if being torn out and churned as with an Arani (fire-producing wooden stick) attended with an irritating, piercing and cutting pain, as well as with a swelling of the local flesh, and a half of the head (on the side of the affected eye) is afflicted with a twisting and cracking sensation as well as with local swelling, shivering and pain. 8.

Symptoms of Pittaja Adhimantha

The symptoms which mark the Pittaja type of Adhimantha are the blood-streaked eye attended with secretion and a sensation therein of being burnt with fire, as well as swelling, perspiration and suppuration in the affected organs, yellowish vision, fainting fits and a burning sensation in the head. The eyes in this case become liver-coloured and seem as if ulcerated or rubbed with an alkali. 9.

Symptoms of Kaphaja Adhimantha s

--In the Kaphaja type of Adhimantha the eye is

p. 22

THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA.

[ Chap. VI.

swollen with a slight congestion (inflammation). Discharges with a sfensation of itching, coldness and heaviness in the localities set in, and there is horripilation. The eye becomes slimy with deposit of mucous matter. The sight becomes cloudy, the nostrils are dilated, the head aches and all objects seem to be full of dust. io.

Symptoms of Raktaja Adhimantha :

— A pricking pain in and a blood-streaked secretion from the affected organ which looks (bright red) like a Bandhujiva flower, are the symptoms which mark the type of Raktaja Adhimantha (due to the vitiated blood). The eye becomes painful and incapable of bearing the least touch or contact, and the objects of vision seem as if enveloped in flames. The extremities of the eye become red and the whole origin of the cornea (black coat of the eye) looks like an Aris/ita fruit submerged in blood. II.

The prognosis : — A course of injudicious diet, conduct or medical treatment may usher in the blindness of vision in seven days from an attack of the Kaphaja type of Adhimantha (Ophthalmia) and in five days from that of the blood-origined (Raktaja) type, in six days in a case of the Vâtaja Adhimantha and instantaneously within three days of the attack) in- the Pittaja type of (i. e ., Adhimantha. 12.

Symptoms of Sa-sopha and A-sopha Akshi-p^ka : — A case of Sa-sopha-Netra-pâa exhibits the following symptoms, viz,, itching sensation, deposit of mucous matter (in the eye), lachrymation and a redness of the eye like the colour of a ripe Udumbara fruit. There is a burning sensation in the eye-ball which becomes copper-coloured, heavy, and attended with a pricking pain and horripilation. The eye becomes swollen and constantly secretes either cold or hot slimy

Chap VI. ]

UTTARA-TANTARAM.

p. 23

discharges, and ultimately suppurates. All these symptoms except swelling mark the (non-swollen) A-s'jphaNetra-prfka type of the disease. 13.

’ The ‘deranged Vdyu getting incarcerated in the optic nerve (Sird) impairs the faculty of sight, and gives rise to an incurable disease which is called Hatrfdhimantha (blinding Ophthalmia). A shifting pain experienced sometimes in the region of the eye-lashes* or of the eye-brows and sometimes in the region of the eye, owing to the coursing of the deranged and incarcerated Vdyu in those localities, is called Vrfta-Paryiya. 14-15.

The disease in which the eye-lids become dry and hard and remain always closed, the vision becomes cloudy and hazy, and it becomes very painful to open the eye-lids, is called the jtashkatkshi-prfka.t The excessive pain in the eyes or in the eye-brows due to the action of the deranged Vdyu incarcerated in the region of the head, the cars, the cheek-bones, the back of the neck (Avatu), the Manyd (a particular nerve on either side of the neck), or in any other (adjacent) place, is called the Anyato-vsfta. 16-17.

The swelling of the eye attended with a bluish red tint all about, owing to the partakings of meals composed of an unduly large proportion of acid articles, or of such food as is followed by a digestionary acid reaction, is called the Ambfdhyushita-Drishti. The disease in which the veins all over the eye become copper-coloured and are frequently discoloured, whether attended with pain or not, is called the SirotjMtta. 18-19.

* M6dhava in the Nidana does not mention the eye-lashes, t M^dhava in the Niddna reads which means that a highly

burning sensation is produced in the affected eye, in place of a word which seems redundant.

p. 24

THE SUSHRUTA SAMIIITX.

[Chaps VI.